Cook Out serves up numerous levels, multiple achievements to unlock, and crucially, endless possibilities for fun and frivolity with friends and family in virtual reality
In Cook Out, you and up to three other chefs work together (or against each other) to prepare sandwiches for an onslaught of hungry customers. As orders pile up on the digital order board, teammates must communicate and cooperate efficiently to keep plates spinning. Or at least that's what's supposed to happen.
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You see, Cook Out originally came out in 2020, but I am playing this in 2024, and unfortunately, no matter how many times I tried to join a multiplayer session, I couldn't find any other players playing the game. Luckily for me, Cook-Out still offers a strong single-player experience, so I can experience all of the kitchen shenanigans.
Gameplay is accessible for all skill levels. Menus are clear, and controls are intuitive, allowing you to jump right into the action. Once a customer comes, you can see how they want their sandwich, and it's go time. You take ingredients out of the fridge, cut them with your cleaver, and start to build their sandwich. For solo players, the game introduces a helpful AI companion that helps you cut additional ingredients, taking a little bit of pressure off your shoulders.
Later levels, however, ramp up difficulty by adding multitasking tasks like washing dishes or manning the flat-top grill. Even in solo play, these levels descend into joyous culinary chaos, and I can only imagine how much fun this would be playing with other players. Failing an order elicits amusing overreactions from the customers, whether it's a werewolf's towering tantrum or a cat's snooty sniff of disapproval.
Visually, Cook Out embraces a charming hand-drawn style that pops in virtual reality. Little touches, like individually animating each ingredient, elevate the experience. Sound design similarly enhances immersion, from sizzling sears to clinking plates.
Cook Out: A Sandwich Tale serves up numerous levels, multiple achievements to unlock, and crucially, endless possibilities for fun and frivolity in virtual reality. I was really sad that I did not play this game at the height of its popularity in co-op, trash-talking, throwing plates, and spraying ketchup all over the other players. In 2024, it's a little hard to recommend this game only for the single-player experience, even though it's quite a good time. But you know what, if enough people read this review, rediscover the game, and get it, maybe the online community will see a resurgence and bring back some of the magic of playing together. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a Quest 3 via a promo code provided by the developer. Cook Out: A Sandwich Tale is available on Meta Quest, Pico PCVR.
